Head Of Business Development

GMYN's vision is that #YoungPeopleCan

For many young people, moving towards a positive future isn’t easy. Greater Manchester Youth Network (GMYN) supports young people aged 10-25 from across Greater Manchester by offering innovative and exciting opportunities that they are not able to access elsewhere.

Our key focus is supporting young people who face particular challenges, including: cared-for young people and care leavers, disabled and neurodiverse young people, unaccompanied asylum seeking children (UASC)/new arrivals, young people with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs, and young people who are not ready for work.

Founded in 2007, Greater Manchester Youth Network (GMYN) has grown from a single volunteering project to an established and highly respected charity delivering multiple youth programmes across Greater Manchester. GMYN has supported marginalised young people, providing new opportunities and chances to progress in life.

The Head of Business Development role

We are looking for an experienced, confident, and committed Head of Business Development to join our growing charity. This senior role is part of GMYN’s leadership team and would be responsible for coming up with new business opportunities to generate income, as well as produce proposals to various funders and trusts.

It is a hugely exciting time to join GMYN and the Head of Business Development is a vital role. The charity is growing and extending our programmes and services across Greater Manchester, and we will be launching our new three year strategy in July. This role is key to support with leading the charity to achieve financial and growth targets as well as coming up with new and innovative business opportunities.

You will also have the opportunity to influence the future direction of GMYN as a member of the Senior Leadership Team, providing strategic input into how we deliver our services to help transform the lives of young people.

Who are we looking for?

Our ideal candidate will have an enthusiastic attitude as well as experience in developing and growing services, ideally for young people. You will have significant experience in Business Development and/or income generation with a proven track record of meeting targets with strong commercial awareness.

You will be confident in managing, inspiring and engaging with both external and internal stakeholders and be a flexible and committed team player.

You will also need experience in helping lead change within an organisation, supporting our team on our journey of growth and sustainability.

Key responsibilities

• Lead on all commissioning activity at GMYN directly with commissioners and through tendering activity.
• Lead and support the creation of high-quality bids to a variety of local and national funders/foundations.
• Develop a thorough understanding of GMYN’s programmes and services in order to promote and create Business Development opportunities to generate income.
• Identify new opportunities across Greater Manchester to identify new partnerships and collaborations based on consultation and research (e.g. housing, health, schools, commissioners, colleges, local authorities and local businesses).
• Promote and secure funding for GMYN’s existing traded services (training, consultancy) and develop new ones to create new income generation opportunities.
• Develop and maintain relationships with new and existing stakeholders including funders, delivery partners, businesses and participants.
• Design and implement an income generation strategy alongside the CEO that supports growth, and impact of GMYN’s programmes.
• Provide strategic overview for GMYN’s design of new programmes and impact measurement, ensuring GMYN can evidence the difference we make.
• Line management of the organisation’s Fundraising and Development team.
• To form a key part of the GMYN Senior Leadership team, supporting the day to day running of the organisation.
• Contribute to helping GMYN provide a positive, ambitious and collaborative team culture.
• To deputise for the CEO as required ensuring continued organisational and service delivery.

Personal Specification

You don't have to have worked in the voluntary youth sector previously. Our aim is to find a suitable candidate that can meet the selection criteria below. This can be from a past/current income generation/Business Development role, or a role with transferable skills.

More importantly we are looking for someone with genuine passion for working for a youth charity. Someone who can join our fundraising team and make a big impression, helping us to achieve our income generation goals. We want to hire an enthusiastic person who can maintain positive working relationships with various supporters, delivery partners and all stakeholders.

• Proven experience in achieving new business and generating income for an organisation, with relevant experience in a similar role or a role with transferable skills.
• Experience of successful bid production and bid management – from identification of opportunity through to submission.
• Track record in successful tendering for retention of contracts and new business.
• Experience of developing and maintaining effective networks, relationships, and partnerships – internally and with external stakeholders – to support development of proposals and service design.
• Knowledge of public sector commissioning, particularly from a third sector and ability to work with local authorities and other funders.
• Knowledge of the structures of the voluntary/statutory and private sectors with regards to supporting the funding and delivery of youth programmes.
• Experience of line management of various roles with proven experience of developing, motivating and supporting staff in key roles.
• Experience in programme/project management including a through understanding of measuring outcomes and impact.
• Strong strategic planning and analytical skills, with the ability to identify opportunities and develop effective strategies.
• Ability to work on own initiative, take day-to-day decisions and delegation.
• Ability to communicate, negotiate and engage with people at a senior level.
• Ability to articulate and translate service delivery models into compelling, structured, and high-quality written proposals.

How to apply

Your invitation to interview will be based on how you demonstrate that you meet the points on the person specification. We will consider skills and experiences from various roles if you can demonstrate how they can be transferable to this role. 

Please download the job pack for further information and where to send your application.

You can apply using either of the following methods:

• Send a CV and cover letter (maximum 2 sides of A4).

• Send a CV and audio/video version of your cover letter (between 5 - 10 minutes).

You can also send your CV and cover letter via this charityjobs page by clicking on the apply link.